AN N EA 162
Archaeology and Religion of Israel
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Introduction of archaeological record of southern Levant (ancient Israel) from Bronze Age through Achaemenid Period (ca. 2500-332 BC) in combination with current understandings of genre, authorship, and historical value of Hebrew Bible. Ancient Israelite identities are traced through combination of archaeological and textual sources. Social, religious, and political traditions of ancient Israel and Judah are interpreted in context of both earlier Bronze Age traditions and Israel's Iron Age neighbors. Archaeological and textual data for identities, such as Amorites, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians, form basis for evaluating construction and maintenance of various biblical identities. Introduction to theoretical and methodological issues involving historical archaeology of ancient Israel and Levant, and possibilities for investigating negotiation of identity in archaeological record. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2025 - I took this class as a GE requirement, and I'm a biology major. I was scared at first because the syllabus says use of technology is not permitted, etc, etc, basically making Burke out to seem like this super strict professor. All that he says about this is that he wants you to stay engaged during lectures (which is super important cause the class material is the lectures, not a textbook), but he wont take your phone or call you out. Burke is super passionate about this topic, his eagerness to teach makes it easy to show up to class. He throws in a lot of star wars references, he's funny, understanding, and engaging. It's easy to ask questions during class. The discussion section is good too, both his TAs are very kind and easy to talk to, and most of it is analyzing specific bible passages in a historic context. There are no textbooks (just the bible), a quiz per lecture (5 questions, 1 point each, counts as attendance, but the questions are fairly easy and you will absolutely pass them if you were at the previous lecture), understanding and accomodating TAs. This has been one of my favorite classes I have taken so far. Burke is one of those professors who teach because they have that genuine passion to do so. I would take another one of his classes if I could.
Spring 2025 - I took this class as a GE requirement, and I'm a biology major. I was scared at first because the syllabus says use of technology is not permitted, etc, etc, basically making Burke out to seem like this super strict professor. All that he says about this is that he wants you to stay engaged during lectures (which is super important cause the class material is the lectures, not a textbook), but he wont take your phone or call you out. Burke is super passionate about this topic, his eagerness to teach makes it easy to show up to class. He throws in a lot of star wars references, he's funny, understanding, and engaging. It's easy to ask questions during class. The discussion section is good too, both his TAs are very kind and easy to talk to, and most of it is analyzing specific bible passages in a historic context. There are no textbooks (just the bible), a quiz per lecture (5 questions, 1 point each, counts as attendance, but the questions are fairly easy and you will absolutely pass them if you were at the previous lecture), understanding and accomodating TAs. This has been one of my favorite classes I have taken so far. Burke is one of those professors who teach because they have that genuine passion to do so. I would take another one of his classes if I could.
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